The Business and Operations Network track provides sessionss that show the impact of business and operations in online and professional continuing units. Business and Operations teams are behind the scenes ensuring that the people, finances, budgets, technology, and facilities are supported and maintained. Institutional leaders are increasingly relying on these units to lead creative and entrepreneurial efforts towards high quality support and service for students, faculty, and staff.
| 2:45 PM |
Concurrent Session I |
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Moving Beyond the Revenue: Creating Sustainable Institutional Value
Governor's Square 16 | Business and Operations | Strategic | Tag: Policy
Many university leaders see PCO units primarily as revenue generators. However, this view overlooks their broader contributions. The Harvard Division of Continuing Education has established itself as an integral part of Harvard's mission beyond financial aspects. This session will explore how PCO can make institutions more agile and innovative through facilitating innovation, engaging new audiences, exemplifying teaching excellence, providing opportunities for faculty and students, and demonstrating higher education's impact on communities. Attendees will learn about Harvard's experience curating the narrative around value creation and discuss applying similar at their own institutions.
- Nancy Coleman, Harvard University
- Ross Pearo, Harvard University
- Moderator: Terry Bower, Metropolitan State University of Denver
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| 4:00 PM |
Concurrent Session II |
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Stop & Share Presentations #1 (Plaza Ballroom BCEF)
Attendees are invited to stop in, mill about, and engage in these dynamic, demonstration-type conversations hosted by presenters ready to share ideas on a hot topic, best practice, or technological innovation.
Moderator: Moderator: April Wolf, Purdue University
Creating Value-Add Partnerships Between Academics and IT on Campus
Business and Operations | Applied | Tag: Policy
The modern institution requires a strong partnership between academics and technologists on campus to ensure digital dreams can be transformed into engaging experiences. Sometimes this connection can be hard to realize institutionally with competing interests and limited resources, but by using a strong product and partnership model at University of Phoenix, these barriers have been broken down with the benefit of year over year retention gains. This session will deep dive into different initiatives that have been benefitted by being equal partners between the academics and IT groups where we work on things in a way that leads to virtuous cycles. This has not only increase revenue but also decreased costs at the same time. Talking about practical and real world ways that barriers between silos can be breached is a valuable topic for UPCEA members.
- Marc Booker, University of Phoenix
- Shannon Wilson, University of Phoenix
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| 8:15 AM |
Concurrent Sessions III |
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Leading in the New (Ab)Normal
Governor's Square 11 | Business and Operations | Applied
Following the departure of three key upper-level staff members, Miami University Regionals' online learning unit reorganized quickly to guide the team through a period of significant transition. This session will focus on change management and seizing new opportunities amid disruption. Attendees will gain practical strategies for managing similar challenges within their organizations. Additionally, the presenters look forward to fostering new collaborations and engaging in problem-solving with audience members, who are encouraged to bring their own leadership challenges related to change. Join us for an interactive and insightful discussion on leading through change and turning obstacles into opportunities.
- Erica Crawford, Miami University
- Emily Hughes, Miami University
- Kit Kirby, Miami University
- Moderator: Tracy Miller, Northern Illinois University
Behind the Scenes with Pathway Programs: Building an Infrastructure with Today’s Systems for Tomorrow’s Students
Governor's Square 17 | Business and Operations | Foundational | Tag: Learner Access, Policy, Graduate Education
Through a dynamic partnership between Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery College (MC), the Universities at Shady Grove (USG), and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), Pathway Programs are revolutionizing the educational landscape and preparing K-16 students for successful degrees and careers in STEM and the humanities. Learn collaborative methods used to create the operational infrastructure with a focus on noncredit and credit programs, the enrollment funnel, reporting, communication outreach, and project management. Learn about best methods with the influences of faculty and staff. The pathway programs customize the Salesforce system to build the operations for a continuous program from high school, to community college and a four-year institution.
- Sarah Gardenghi, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- Elliot Talbert-Goldstein, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
- Moderator: Elizabeth Wood, MindEdge
Industry Insights (Governor's Square 14)
Get ready for a rapid-fire session of game-changing ideas, fresh insights, and cutting-edge solutions. Industry Insights brings together UPCEA’s top corporate partners for a fast-paced series of short, dynamic presentations designed to spark innovation and drive action. Each speaker will deliver a high-impact introduction to a key idea, challenge, solution, or must-know product shaping online and professional continuing education. No matter your role or institution, this session will fuel your knowledge and move your institution forward.
Moderator: Amrit Ahluwalia, Western University
Insights from the State of Continuing Education 2025 Annual Report
Business and Operations | Tag: Faculty
Join us for the launch of the State of Continuing Education 2025 report, where we'll unveil critical trends shaping the future of continuing education. This session will highlight key findings from annual research supported by The EvoLLLution, UPCEA and the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE).
Since its inception in 2020, this report gathers insights into online and professional continuing education units at various institutions across North America, focusing on program offerings, institutional support, integration, innovation and collaboration within the broader institution. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights to drive innovation at your institution.
Kristin O'Bannon, Modern Campus |
| 9:30 AM |
Concurrent Sessions IV |
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Navigating Higher Education Restructuring
Governor's Square 10 | Business and Operations | Strategic | Tag: Policy, Faculty, Graduate Education
In higher education today, institutions must frequently undergo restructuring to remain competitive, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of students and stakeholders. A recent UPCEA snap poll revealed that 67% of respondents were engaged in reorganization, highlighting the urgency of this topic. This workshop will delve into strategic approaches learning from the expertise of the UPCEA Strategic Advisor(s) who have worked through this in the past Participants will gain actionable insights in creating frameworks and roadmaps for restructuring, avoiding common pitfalls, and addressing barriers that impede successful implementation and may cause institutional harm, including faculty and staff loss of confidence in the process and the outcome.
- Vickie Cook, University of Illinois Springfield
- Stacy Chiaramonte, UPCEA
- Charles Iacovou, Wake Forest University
- Josh Steele, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Roundtable Presentations #2 (Plaza Ballroom BCEF)
In this session, attendees will have the opportunity to engage with up to two different topics during small-group, 30-minute, table-based guided discussion around a specific and timely topic, question, or issue. Roundtables are designed to provide space and time to important but particularly nuanced topics which deserve attention, and presenters will promote the sharing of thoughts, solutions, and questions among their respective table’s attendees.
Moderator: Laurel Hogue, University of Central Missouri
Engaging the PCO Workforce: Passion, Purpose and Happiness
Business and Operations | Applied | Tag: Learner Access
It’s time to get happier! Are you looking for creative suggestions to help your team rediscover passion and purpose? Studies have shown that leadership practices that leverage happiness principles can help organizations enhance employee wellbeing and drive outstanding results. These practices have never been more needed than today in PCO units. We’re constantly being asked to do more with less, to model the way in innovation and student support practices and demonstrate more value to our institutions - all with fewer resources and more expectations. That pressure can take a toll on our employees. Learn about research-based happiness practices that will help you re-energize your team.
- Nancy Coleman, Harvard University
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| 12:30 PM |
Network Lunch Meetings and Awards Presentations |
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Business & Operations (Governor's Square 14)
Award Presentation: Business & Operations Award for Operational Excellence
Moderator: Melissa Mahan, University of Texas at San Antonio
Sponsored by EducationDynamics
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| 2:00 PM |
Concurrent Sessions V |
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How to Master Data to Craft Your Strategic Direction
Governor's Square 12 | Business and Operations | Applied | Tag: Faculty
This session provides insights on the critical role of data in continuing education operations, emphasizing strategies for effectively collecting and using data. Attendees will learn to ask the right questions and optimize data to improve student success and institutional performance to best serve the modern learner.
- Shauna Cox, The EvoLLLution: A Modern Campus Illumination
- Evan Cortens, Mount Royal University
- Amrit Ahluwalia, Western University
- Moderator: Trisha Wells, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Stop & Share Presentations #2 (Plaza Ballroom BCEF)
Attendees are invited to stop in, mill about, and engage in these dynamic, demonstration-type conversations hosted by presenters ready to share ideas on a hot topic, best practice, or technological innovation.
Moderator: Amber O'Casey, Alamo Colleges District
From Convening to Doing More with Less: A Real Journey of Empathy, Strategizing, and Support
Business and Operations | Strategic
Learn how to do more with less by leveraging empathy and understanding, fostering a supportive environment, and navigating through the inevitable challenges and dips along the way. Discover the power of real conversations and sustained action steps in driving successful outcomes. Through vivid examples and engaging storytelling, this session will provide you with actionable insights and eureka moments that you can apply within your own organizations. By the end of this session, you will have a deeper understanding of how to bring people together in the same space, define clear action steps, and follow through with commitment and resilience.
- Annette Roberts Webb, University of California Merced
- Lee Maxey, MindMax
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| 3:30 PM |
Concurrent Sessions VI: Workshops |
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Belong, Grow, Thrive: Building a Cohesive Employee Onboarding and Retention Plan
Plaza Court 4-5 | Business and Operations | Applied | Tag: Learner Access
This interactive session emphasizes the importance of both a strong onboarding experience and a long-term retention strategy in building a committed and engaged workforce. Participants will learn how a well-structured onboarding process sets the foundation for employee success while exploring key practices for fostering continued engagement beyond the initial months. We will share practical resources and strategies from our unit, along with case studies illustrating how tailored onboarding and retention efforts have supported both learning design team members and administrative staff. Leaders will gain actionable insights to improve retention and sustain a positive, productive work environment.
- Kamille Leptz, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Carey Hansard, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Dean Goon, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Ann Taylor, The Pennsylvania State University
- Stevie Rocco, The Pennsylvania State University
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